CA Gov. Jerry Brown Vetoes Bike-Passing Safety Law

Stunning the bicycle community, the Governor chose to adhere to the advice of Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol in believing that such a law could cause crashes and traffic back-ups.

"In his veto message, Brown writes, "Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol have raised legitimate concerns about other provisions such as the 15 MPH requirement. On streets with speed limits of 35 or 40 MPH, slowing to 15 MPH to pass a bicycle could cause rear end collisions. On other roads, a bicycle may travel at or near 15 MPH creating a long line of cars behind the cyclist."

From CA Bicycle Coaltion: CBC refutes CHP speculation that SB 910 will cause collisions: "Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists, the nation's oldest bicycling advocacy organization, wrote this week in a letter to Gov. Brown, "In our experience working with the 19 [sic] other states that have passed three-foot passing laws, we have heard of no increases in the number of motor vehicle crashes due to the new requirements or any increased burden on law enforcement. In contrast, we have received nothing but positive responses to these laws."

It remains to be seen if California cyclists react as strongly to Brown's veto as their counterparts in Texas did to Perry's veto and launch "a petition drive asking voters to keep him in mind during the election - and not in a good way." [ Perry was to face U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, in the GOP gubernatorial primary the next year.]

Thanks to SF. Streetsblog